Sampling device



Sept. 29, 1959 F IG.|

FIG. 3

F. B. JEWETT, JR

SAMPLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 15, 1956 INVENTOR'.

FRANK B. JEWETT, JR.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 29, 1959 SAMPLING DEVICE Frank B. Jewett, Jr., New Canaan, Conn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application August 15, 1956, Serial No. 604,289

12 Claims. (Cl. 73--421.5)

The present invention relates to collection of high altitude air samples.

It is frequently desirable to ascertain various facts concerning high altitude air, and it is accordingly an object of the invention to provide apparatus which may be carried aloft and at a predetermined high altitude collect a large sample of air at that altitude and return the sample to earth without mixing it with unwanted air.

It is an additional object to provide mechanism adapted to obtain and bring intact to the ground a sample of air collected at an altitude above the range of the ordinary airplane.

Another object is to provide a simple, reliable, foolproof, light-weight apparatus including a high altitude balloon having a range far above the range of the ordinary airplane for capturing and bringing to earth intact a sample of air from such higher altitudes.

A further object is to provide a device which will carry a container to a predetermined altitude, automatically open the container so as to enable it to collect air, and automatically seal the container after the air is collected.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which will carry aloft a deflated bag, automatically open the bag mouth at a predetermined altitude so that, with continued ascent with the mouth foremost, a sample of air is rammed into the bag, close the mouth to trap the sample, and bring the bag intact to earth.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is an elevational view of an air sampling assembly embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing a releasable container closure;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the container as it is being filled with a sample of high altitude air, and mechanism for closing the container after the sample is collected.

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged detailed perspective view of the mechanism for closing the container after the air sample has been collected;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view showing the container gravitating after an air sample has been collected.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, disclosing an illustrative embodiment of the invention, there is shown at a balloon envelope which may be formed of gores 12 seamed together and covered at the seams by tapes 14. The envelope 10 may be closed at the top as by a cap 16, and the tapes 14 extend below the envelope bottom 18 and are connected to a balloon load ring 20.

A balloon load line 24 suspended from the ring is connected to an eye 26 secured to the top of a parachute 28 whose shroud lines 30 are connected to a parachute load ring 32. A load line 34 suspended from the ring 32 is connected to an eye 36 from which load strings 38 diverge and suspend a rim 40 to which is suitably secured the edge of the mouth 42 of an air sampling bag 44, so that the rim defines the entrance to the bag.

A collar 48 passing through a squib 50 tightly clasps and closes the neck 52 of the bag 44 to impart a funnel shape to the mouth 42 (Figs. 1 and 2), the neck forming the upper end of a compartment of the bag. The squib 58' is connected by leads 54 to electric circuit constituents (not shown) contained in a housing 56 suspended from the parachute load ring 32.

A collar 60 encircling the neck 52 of the sampling bag 44 is suspended from the rim 40 by means of lines 62. Opposed brackets 64 carried by the collar 60 support winches 66 to which are anchored linked cords 68 which form a collapsible loop 70 adapted to serve as a tourniquet about the neck 52, as will appear. The winches 66 are driven by motors 72 connected by leads 74 to electric circuit constituents (not shown) contained in the housing 56.

The balloon load line 24 passes through a main flight termination squib 78 connected by leads 80 to electric circuit constituents (not shown) contained in the housing 56.

The balloon load line 24 also passes through an auxiliary or safety flight termination squib 82 above the squib 78 and connected by leads 84 to electric circuit constituents (not shown) contained in a box 86 suspended as at 88 from a point on the line above the parachute eye 26.

Fig. 1 shows the assembly as it appears in soaring flight toward the predetermined altitude at which collection of the desired air sample is to commence, the bag 44 being deflated and collapsed. When that altitude is reached, a suitable pressure-sensitive switch, in circuit with batteries and the squib 50, closes, firing the squib, which severs the band 48. Said altitude is substantially lower than the maximum altitude of which the loaded towing balloon 10 is capable, so that at severance of the band 48 soaring continues. At the release of the band 48, and pursuant to and by reason of continued rapid ascent of the balloon, air is rammed as indicated by the arrows 92 into the mouth and through the neck and into the bag and proceeds to readily and rapidly expand and fill the bag.

When a predetermined higher altitude, at which filling of the bag has been precalculated to be substantially complete, is attained, another suitable pressure-sensitive switch, in circuit with the batteries and the motors 72, closes so that the motors turn the winches 66 in the directions indicated by the arrows 96 to collapse the tourniquet loop 70 until the neck 52 is closed, trapping and sealing the sample of air in the bag 44, which then has the appearance substantially as shown in Fig. 5.

The balloon continues to ascend, and at a somewhat higher elevation a third pressure-sensitive switch, in circuit with the batteries and the lower flight termination squib 78, closes, firing the squib, which severs the balloon load line 24, whereupon the assembly thus released from the balloon commences to descend and the parachute 28 opens and allows the assembly below the point of severance to gravitate gently so that the equipment will not be damaged on landing.

In the event of failure of the main squib 78 to fire, another suitable pressure-sensitive switch, in circuit with batteries and the safety squib 82, closes at a somewhat higher altitude, firing the safety squib 82 to sever the balloon load line 24.

Inasmuch as the balloon load line is severed, whether by the squib 78 or the squib 82, above the place of suspension of the box 86, said box and its contents will be salvaged. If the main squib 78 fires, the wiring 84 will be pulled loose or broken pursuant to the resulting relative mo vcment of the balloon and the remainder of the equipment. If desired, this wrenching can be eliminated by passing the wires 84 through the squib 78 so that said wires as well as the load line 24 will be severed when the squib 78 fires. 1

Instead of relying on a pressure-sensitive switch to start the tourniquet motors 72, a timer, started by the switch controlling the band-severing squib 50, may be employed. This timer, after a predetermined period suflicient to permit the bag 44 to substantially fill with the air sample, would close a switch to start the motors 72. However the motors 72 may be started, they may be continuously energized so as to hold the tournique 70 taut. However, if desired, the motor-controlling switch could be opened when constriction of the bag neck 52 is completed, and suitable braking or ratchet mechanism (not shown) on the winches could be employed to prevent relaxation of the tourniquet.

Instead of relying on a pressure-sensitive switch to control firing of the main flight termination squib 78, a timer may be employed. This timer could be started pursuant .to closing of the motor starting switch and could be set to close a switch at a predetermined subsequent time, to fire the squib 78.

Likewise, the firing of the safety squib 82 could be timer-controlled instead of altitude-controlled.

It will be understood that the bag 44 may be brought to the ground by other means. For example, the squibs 78 and 82 could be dispensed with and means (not shown) provided to deflate the balloon envelope so that it will descend with the load. The latter method may be desired particularly where the load is heavy, to afiord a more gentle descent and thus avoid damage to the apparatus upon landing.

The balloon and sampling bag may be formed of various types of materials which are light in weight yet will withstand the low temperatures at high altitudes and resist rupture on landing. Polyethylene is an example of a suitable material.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for capturing a sample of high altitude atmosphere, comprising a high altitude balloon, a load line suspended from the balloon, a squib about the line, a parachute suspended from the line below the squib, a deflated bag suspended from the parachute and arranged with its mouth uppermost, means holding the edge of the mouth agape, a collar closing the bag below said edge, a squib through which the collar passes, a ring surrounding and in non-constricting relation to the neck of the bag, a tourniquet carried by the ring and comprising an undrawn noose about the bag, means for firing the second squib at a predetermined high altitude so as to sever the collar, allowing the sample to rush into and inflate the bag with continued ascent, means for operating the tourniquet at a higher altitude to draw the noose so as to close the bag when the bag is inflated, and means for firing the first squib so as to sever the balloon load line and allow the parachute to float the inflated bag to the ground.

2. Apparatus for capturing a sample of high altitude atmosphere, comprising a high altitude balloon, a parachute suspended from the balloon, a deflated bag suspended from the parachute with the mouth of the bag uppermost, means closing the deflated bag at the neck thereof, means holding the edge of the mouth agape, means operative at a predetermined high altitude to open the bag at the neck thereof so'that with continued ascent the sample rushes into and proceeds to inflate the bag, means operative at a predetermined higher altitude to reclose the bag at the neck thereof when the bag is inflated, and means for releasing the parachute from the balloon when the bag is reclosed.

3. In an apparatus for capturing a sample of high altitude atmosphere, a deflated bag adapted to be carried aloft, means holding the top of the bag agape, and releasable means closing the bag in proximity to the top to impart a divergent shape to the upper portion of the bag, whereby, when the closing means is released, the sample will have a free corridor to enter and inflate the bag as the bag continues to ascend. I

4. In an apparatus for capturing a sample of high alti tude atmosphere, a deflated bag adapted to be carried aloft and having a flared end portion releasably closed at the apex and adapted to face the direction of ascent, means for opening the apex at a predetermined high altitude to enable the sample to be rammed rapidly into and inflate the bag with continued ascent of the bag, and means operative at a higher altitude for trapping the sample in the bag.

5. In an apparatus for capturing a sample of high altitude atmosphere, a closed deflated bag adapted to be carried aloft, means for instantaneously fully opening the upper part of the bag when the bag reaches a high altitude so that the sample will be rammed rapidly into and inflate the bag with continued ascent of the bag, and means for gradually closing the inflated bag when the bag is higher than the first-mentioned altitude.

6. In an apparatus for capturing a sample of high altitude atmosphere, a closed deflated bag adapted to be carried aloft, means for opening the upper part of the bag when the bag reaches a high altitude so that the sample will be rammed rapidly into and inflate the bag with continued ascent of the bag, and means comprising a noose for gradually closing the inflated bag when the bag is higher than the first-mentioned altitude.

7. An apparatus for capturing a sample of high altitude atmosphere, comprising a high altitude balloon, a load line depending from the balloon, upper and lower squibs about the line, a parachute connected to the line below the lower squib, a deflated bag suspended from the parachute, a band embracing and closing the upper part of the bag, a squib through which said band passes, an undrawn noose about the upper part of the bag, noose drawing means, container means suspended from the balloon below the lower squib, batteries and switches disposed in said container means and wired to the respective squibs and noose drawing means, one of the switches being set to fire the band squib so as to open the bag at a predetermined high altitude, another of the switches being set to operate the noose drawing means to draw the noose tight about and thereby reclose the bag at a higher altitude, a third one of the switches being set to fire said lower squib and thereby sever the load line when the bag is reclosed, the wiring from said upper squib to the container means being adapted to be severed pursuant to such severance of the balloon load line, and a fourth one of said switches being set to fire said upper squib in the event of failure of said lower squib to fire.

8. An apparatus for capturing a sample of high altitude atmosphere, comprising a high altitude balloon, a load line depending from the balloon, a squib about the line, a parachute connected to the line below the squib, a deflated bag suspended from the parachute, a band embracing and closing the upper part of the bag, a squib through which said band passes, an undrawn noose about the upper part of the bag, noose drawing means, container means suspended from the balloon below the load line squib, and batteries and switches disposed in said container means and wired to the respective squibs and noose drawing means, one of the switches being set to fire the band squib so as to open the bag at a predetermined high altitude, another of the switches being set to operate the noose drawing means to draw the noose tight about and thereby reclose the bag at a higher altitude, and a third one of the switches being set to fire the load linesquib and thereby sever the load line when the bag is reclosed,

9. In an apparatus for capturing a sample of high altitude atmosphere, a bag having a closed deflated compartment, means for carrying the bag aloft with the mouth of the bag above the compartment, a stiff rim holding the edge of the mouth agape, a stifl collar suspended from the rim and disposed about and adjacent and in non-constricting relation to the neck of the bag, a pair of oppositely disposed winches carried by the collar, motor means for the Winches, a cord anchored at its ends to one of the winches, a cord anchored at its ends to the other winch, said cords being looped together, providing an undrawn noose about the neck of the bag, means operative at a high altitude for opening the upper part of the compartment so that the sample may be rammed rapidly into and inflate the compartment with continued ascent of the bag, and means including a switch for operating said motor means to draw the noose tight about the neck and close the sample-contain ing bag.

10. Apparatus for capturing a sample of high altitude atmosphere, comprising a high altitude balloon, a bag suspended from the balloon, the bag having a closed deflated compartment, means operative at a high altitude to open the top of the compartment so that the sample may rush into and inflate the bag with continued ascent, means for closing the inflated compartment, and means for gently floating the inflated bag to earth.

11. Apparatus for capturing a sample of high altitude atmosphere, comprising a bag having a closed collapsed compartment, means for carrying the bag aloft, a parachute between and connected to the carrying means and the bag, means for opening the top of the compartment at a high altitude to enable the sample to rapidly inflate the compartment with continued ascent, means for closing the inflated compartment at a higher altitude, and means for releasing the parachute from the carrying means to enable the bag to float gently to earth.

12. In an apparatus for capturing a sample of high altitude atmosphere, a bag having a closed neck defining an end of a deflated compartment, an undrawn noose about the neck, means for moving the bag in a high altitude atmosphere with said end facing the direction of motion, means operative While the bag is in said atmosphere to open the neck so that a sample of said atmosphere will inflate the compartment with continued movement of the bag in said atmosphere, and means for drawing the noose tight about and closing the neck before the bag with the inflated compartment leaves said atmoszphere.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,352,578 Wallace June 27, 1944 2,468,021 Black Apr. 26, 1949 2,645,940 Kohl et a1. July 21, 1953 2,730,626 Varney Jan. 10, 1956 2,756,948 Winzen et -al. July 31, 1956 

